Client Specialist

Baird; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Baird is seeking a Client Specialist in Madison, WI to deliver top-tier client service and operational support to Financial Advisors within Private Wealth Management. You’ll handle onboarding, communications, account operations, and client events to enhance the client experience and advisor success.

The role emphasizes accurate paperwork, proactive service, and collaboration across teams, with licensing requirements and strong technology skills supported by training.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of prior industry and/or administrative work experience.
• Active Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, Series 7, and Series 66 or Series 63/65 licenses or willingness to obtain within 18 months.
• Strong technology aptitude including AI-enabled solutions.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate onboarding and client communications for Financial Advisors.
• Support account operations and quarterly client events.
• Maintain CRM and client service models to improve efficiency.
• Prepare materials and reports for client meetings and reviews.
• Ensure compliance with firm and regulatory policies.

Skills

Administrative experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Regulatory/compliance understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

AI-enabled tools

Job description

About The Role

As a Client Specialist at Baird, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering outstanding client service and operational support to one or more Financial Advisors. You’ll be at the heart of the client experience—coordinating onboarding, managing communications, supporting account operations, and helping organize impactful client events. Your work will directly contribute to the success of Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, where true wealth management means understanding each client’s unique vision and tailoring solutions to help them succeed.

About The Role

As a Client Specialist at Baird, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering outstanding client service and operational support to one or more Financial Advisors. You’ll be at the heart of the client experience—coordinating onboarding, managing communications, supporting account operations, and helping organize impactful client events. Your work will directly contribute to the success of Baird’s Private Wealth Management business, where true wealth management means understanding each client’s unique vision and tailoring solutions to help them succeed.

Check out this video to learn more about the day in the life of our Client Assistants and Client Specialists!

The Impact You’ll Make

• Responsible for client onboarding coordination, which includes managing Financial Advisor(s) prospect pipeline, assisting with proposal generation, preparing new account paperwork, opening accounts, transitioning new assets to Baird and establishing an ongoing communication/client service plan
• Gain knowledge of and leverage partnership with Baird’s Corporate Resource Groups to provide the best wealth management solutions to clients
• Answers all incoming phone calls and handles as appropriate. Manages client needs where possible and advises Financial Advisor of action taken
• May schedule client appointments and/or conference room for appointments
• Assemble/generate materials including paperwork and reports for client meetings
• Understand and ensure business adherence with firm and financial industry regulatory policies
• May manage FA and Team’s social media presence (website, LinkedIn, X, etc.)
• Maintain Client Relationship Management (CRM) system for Financial Advisor(s), as well as leverage the platform to manage the client relationship through mailings, reporting, e-mail tracking, and more, with the goal of implementing well-defined client service models
• May organize and coordinate seminars and client events at the direction of Financial Advisor(s). Develops client lists, designs material and seminar/meeting content, coordinates PowerPoint presentations and follows through with client contact
• Seek ways to enhance FA(s) business effectiveness and marketability
• Initiates and completes all transactions required to fully service client accounts i.e. paperwork, correspondence, client request fulfillment and special projects as necessary
• May enter security orders including stocks, bonds, fixed income, options, annuities and other investment vehicle orders per Financial Advisors’ instructions or upon client’s verbal direction
• May also provide back-up to other teams and the branch when necessary, as well as perform other duties and special projects as necessary
• Proactively review investment opportunities on a daily basis & notify Financial Advisor(s) to take action on those opportunities with the goal of driving the Financial Advisors’ business. Specifically, this may include funds available/money line, maturing securities, reorg items, and previous days’ activities

What You’ll Bring To Baird

• 2+ years of prior industry and/or administrative work experience
• Must have Active Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam, Series 7, and Series 66 or Series 63 and Series 65 licenses or be willing to study and obtain within 18 months of hire. Training and resources to be provided and paid for by Baird. If not fully licensed, title will be Client Assistant
• Strong technology aptitude with the ability to adopt new tools, including AI-enabled solutions, preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with the ability to learn and effectively navigate Baird’s Private Wealth Management technology platforms
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to adeptly exchange ideas and information
• Detail oriented with an emphasis on accuracy
• Strong organizational skills -- consistent ability to prioritize workflow of team to achieve specific goals in a timely manner
• Understands compliance regulations and correspondence policies. Maintains client confidentiality in all situations
• Good analytical and critical problem-solving skills
• Bachelor's degree preferred, not required
• Ability to lift, move, and transport items up to approximately 25 pounds as needed to support office operations, client events, and team activities.